How To Get Diagnosed With Ptsd

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental health condition that a person may develop after going through (or witnessing) something traumatic. PTSD is often marked by symptoms like flashbacks, nightmares, anxiety, and even intrusive thoughts about the initial traumatic event.

Most people will have difficulty coping with the reality of something traumatic they have recently gone through. These feelings will go away on their own with time in most cases, but if the symptoms get worse and last longer, you may be instead suffering from PTSD.

How to get diagnosed with PTSD

Your healthcare provider can perform several different tests or examinations to determine if what you are suffering from is indeed PTSD.

Per the Mayo Clinic, PTSD can be diagnosed through these tests:

A physical exam
A psychological evaluation
A comparison of your symptoms with the criteria in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5)

Before you schedule an appointment, it would be wise to learn more about the symptoms of PTSD and similar mental health disorders.

The symptoms of PTSD

Although, in most cases, symptoms first show within a month of the original traumatic event, they may sometimes not appear until years after the event. These symptoms make it hard to carry out your normal life and will interfere with your personal and professional tasks and activities.

The symptoms of PTSD can be divided into four categories, although these symptoms are not mutually exclusive and tend to vary between cases.

Intrusive Memories

Consistent and unwanted memories of the initial event
Flashbacks to the event
Unpleasant nightmares of the event
Emotional or physical distress to things that remind you of the event

Avoidance

Avoidance of thoughts or conversations about the traumatic event
Avoidance of people, things, or places that remind you of the events

Negative Changes in Thinking and Mood

Thinking negatively about yourself and the world
Hopelessness
Difficulty remembering
Difficulty maintaining your close relationships
Social withdrawal
Lack of interest in hobbies
Feeling emotionally numb

Changes in Physical and Emotional Reactions

Being easily startled
Being on guard all the time
Self-destructive behavior (like substance abuse)
Difficulty concentrating
Disruptions in sleep patterns
Irritability
Angry outbursts
Aggressive behavior
Feelings of guilt and shame

The causes of PTSD

PTSD, like other mental health conditions, is a complicated mix of many of the following factors:

Stressful events or traumatic experiences you have lived through
A family history of mental health conditions or PTSD
Inherited personality features (your temperament)
The way your brain and body respond to stress

Risk factors for PTSD can include the following:

Intense or ongoing trauma
Childhood abuse
Exposure to traumatic events through your line of work
Other mental health conditions like depression or anxiety
Substance abuse
Not having a strong social support system

Ketamine Treatment for PTSD

Research indicates that ketamine can treat PTSD by binding to certain receptors in the brain, increasing the amount of the neurotransmitter glutamate is released. This then sets off a chain reaction that affects thinking and emotional regulation.

This means, in a more common language, that the brain reacts to ketamine infusions in a way that triggers hormones that help the brain create more positive emotions. Unlike other treatments, ketamine can provide this relief within hours or days of the first infusion, although it is most successful as a series of infusions.

If you or a loved one are struggling with PTSD, contact us today to find out if this innovative new treatment option is right for you.